The suburbs of Madrid are a long way from Whitchurch in Cardiff and the house where Frank and Debbie Bale raised their son.

But then 27-year-old Gareth has come a long way himself.

It is fair to ponder whether Bale’s international team-mates at Real Madrid – who mostly live alongside him just a stone’s throw from our hotel meeting place – knew much about his nation of birth before this summer.

“I think they knew Wales existed, they just didn’t think we were very good,” he says.

“But now we’re above most of their countries in the world rankings so, you know!”

La Finca in Madrid is home to the city's footballers

Bale is relaxed and laughing.

Whether the move to Spain has helped his confidence, the Welshman now seems to bask in the limelight, something which was evident during Euro 2016, especially at a few memorable press conferences.

“Ryan Giggs was my hero, the way he played, left footed and Welsh like me, I grew up watching him.

“And even though John Charles was a bit before my time I’ve heard enough stories, seen enough old footage, spoken a lot to Cliff Jones at Tottenham (another member of the famous 1958 World Cup side) to know how much of a legend he was.

“I genuinely don’t think of myself like that.

“I’m just trying to do my best for my country, trying to get our county to the best level it can be – if that leads me personally to that kind of level, then great, but it’s not the focus.”

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At 27 Bale is a father-of-two and raising his daughters in a foreign country.

His youngest was born less than three months before the Euros and her four-year-old sister stole the show in Paris after Wales’ victory against Northern Ireland, running around the pitch with her dad – not that she has any idea what he does for a living.

“No, she hasn’t got a clue,” he says.

“Whether it was a garden or a stadium she’d run around.”

Gareth Bale celebrates his team's win with his daughter

Both girls were born in Cardiff – which Bale is quick to point out when asked if she qualifies to play football for Spain.

“She definitely hasn’t got a Spanish accent,” he says.

“But then when she speaks Spanish she does put one on.”

He admits that fatherhood is a balancing act due to the demands of his career.

While in France last summer he was video-calling his newborn daughter every day – “making sure she knew who I was!”

“But then there are other boys in the squad with young kids, it is the same for everyone.

“It is one of those things that you have to put up with as part of your career, but I’m sure my daughters will one day be able to look back on some videos and appreciate what we achieved.”

He is also aware that Wales’ exploits have seen a boom in the number of babies being named Bale (boys and girls) back home.

He laughs about Wales’ comedy double-act and chief pranksters, Joe Ledley and Wayne Hennessey: “I mean at two in the morning you might hear Adele blasting on the stereo from their room.”

And remembers Hal Robson Kanu’s wonder goal against Belgium: “I passed the ball to Rambo (Aaron Ramsey) and then Rambo put it inside for Hal, and I was just thinking ‘LAY IT OFF, LAY IT OFF!’ When he turned I think he surprised himself as much as anyone else.”

Hal Robson-Kanu turns Thomas Meunier and Marouane Fellaini of Belgium inside out as he scores his Welsh wonder goal against Belgium in Euro 2016

And there's appreciating Joe Allen (the Wales team have a WhatsApp group dedicated to Joe Allen, who they regularly honour with praise).

Bale says: “I think every day is Joe Allen appreciation day, when we’re away at least there’s a Joe Allen appreciation day every day.

“I don’t actually know how or where that started from but everyone just got on it and we all have a laugh with it.

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“And he takes it well to be fair – although I do think he quite enjoys it.”

His favourite match?

“You know the Russia game, there was a lot of pressure on that game and for me that was probably our best performance.”

And favourite chant?

The red shirt of Wales' Gareth Bale printed with the date of the Russia game

“Don’t take me home. We were always singing it, in the circles after the games, with the fans, it was definitely the tune we took home with us.”

He adds: “You hear about a lot of teams in tournaments being stuck in their rooms, bored in the hotel.

“I don’t think I was in my room apart from when I was asleep.

“We were constantly doing things together, watching games, playing table tennis, going for walks, having a game of golf, we were always busy and enjoying the whole experience, enjoying being part of the tournament, having fun.

“We always believed going into the tournament that we could do something, we could go quite far, which is easier said than done obviously but we proved to ourselves and everyone else that we are a very good team.

“We still have a young team, a strong nucleus. We’ve got plenty of years in us, I’m only 27, Rambo’s only 26 and there are youngsters like Jonny Williams who is very good and Tom Lawrence doing well, coming through.

“And you know hopefully now we can inspire another generation below us, to continue, to give us a better national team in the future.”

Don’t Take Me Home is in cinemas nationwide from March 3 with special preview screenings taking place on March 1 to mark St David’s Day.